September 23, 2010 (Lincoln, NH) – The Nor’easter ‘Cross presented by Smartwool and Cycle-Smart is coming up in only a few short days. Racing kicks off on Saturday, September 25th at 9am with the Category 4 men. Our Elite Women go off at 12:30pm and the Elite Men take the course at 1:30pm. Online registration has been extended until Thursday night at 8pm eastern and racers will have the option to register at the event. This brand new UCI-level race will show off the talents of some of the best cyclocross racers in the country to a new audience as a part of the Nor’easter Festival powered by Eastern Mountain Sports at Loon Mountain in Lincoln, New Hampshire. As a new race on the already very full New England cyclocross calendar, the Nor’easter ‘Cross organizers knew they would have to offer one of the best and most unique events of the season. By partnering with the Nor’easter Festival, they have taken pains to make sure that this would be a great time and hopefully the beginning of a great new tradition in New England.

The varied terrain at Loon Mountain offers up one of the most challenging and fun courses in the region. The key features of the course are challenging climbs at each end, sweeping downhill turns on the ski slopes and a tunnel that will create the tallest flyover in North American cyclocross. The finishing stretch will bring racers right into the heart of the Nor’easter Festival with the finish line right at the main base lodge.

As a part of the Nor’easter Festival, cyclocross racers and fans will have an opportunity to meet and interact with other outdoor enthusiasts as well as take advantage of everything the festival has to offer, including rock climbing clinics, product demos and live music. Just added, with their race entry, competitors will be afforded an all access weekend festival pass as well as a parking pass. That’s an $85 value on top of the race entry!

At Nor’easter ‘Cross, the promoters have put their money where their mouth is, offering equal payouts to the top fifteen Elite Women across the line. At almost $2000, this is one of the best paying women’s races in the United States. Nor’easter will feature the return of Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) to New England’s racing, hoping to continue her success from the first two weekends of the year. She’ll be going head to head against most of the New England Cyclo-Cross Championship Series favorites including last weekend’s runners up Ann D’Ambruoso and Crystal Anthony, both from Ladies First Racing and on the hunt for their first UCI victories. Their teammate and third place finisher from Sunday, Christina Tamilio will be looking to take a step or two up on the podium while Rebecca Wellons (Pedro’s) and Linnea Koons (Embrocation Cycling Journal) look to improve on their own solid results from last weekend. There is also a dedicated Women’s 3/4 race that will go for 40 minutes instead of the thirty that many other races offer.

The Elite Men features some of the best young racers in America in the Keough brothers, Nick and Jake (Champion Systems p/b Keough Cyclocross) as well as Bikereg.com/Joe’s Garage/Scott teammates Justin Lindine and Jerome Townsend. All five of these racers are coming off of solid performances last weekend and will look to take advantage of the busy weekend’s schedule. Another rider to watch and a local favorite in New Hampshire is Justin Spinelli who, after some time racing for his own company, has made a return to the ever-present and storied Richard Sachs/RGM Watched/Radix team. Spinelli came across sixth and fourth in Vermont and will definitely have his sights set on victory at Loon. President of the race, Adam Myerson (Cycle-Smart) will be aiming to take the first UCI victory of his career, coming off two solid performances this past weekend.

The Nor’easter Cross would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors, Smartwool, Cycle-Smart and EMS. For further information on this event, visit www.cycle-smart.com.